Perforating devices



G. D. WHITE ET AL Sept. 25, 1956 PERFORATING DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 25, 1955 INVENTORS GERARD D. WHITE 5 CHARLES H.ASHLE Sept.25, 1956 V D. WHITE ETAL 2,764,240

PERFORATING DEVICES Filed Sept. 23, 1953 2 Sheqts-Sheet INVE R5 GERARDD. 1 CHARLES H. As Y United States Patent PERFORATING DEVICES Gerard D.White and Charles H. Ashley, Ogdensburg, N. Y., assignors to AccoProducts, Inc., Ogdensburg, N. Y., a corporation of New York"Application September 23, 1953, SerialNo. 381,834 18 Claims. (Cl.164-91) The invention relates to improvements in perforating devices andmore particularly to a portable device adapted for perforating sheets ofpaper, or the like, with one or two holes to facilitate binding ofth'e'sheets with fastening devices in files or binders.

Perforating devices of the general character disclosed in thisapplication have heretofore been provided with a common V-sh-apedoperating handle or lever, manipulable to simultaneously actuate a pairof fixedly-positioned punches for-punching two holes in a sheet orsheetsof paper.- There are many instances when it is desired to punchbut a-single hole in 'a sheet or sheets and this is exceedinglydiificult when no means is provided to render oneor the other of thepunches inoperative. Various mechanisms have been provided inmultiple-punch per-' forato'rs to afford physical disengagement andselective operation of one or more punches, but notoneof' theseprior'structu-res embody mechanism readily and inexpensively adapted toa two-hole perforator. To be entirely satisfactory, such-a perforatorshould include' simple selective means which may be manipulated readilyby'unskilled personnel,-whereby either one or both of the punches may beoperated by a single strok'eof an operating lever. Because of theserequirements, it has been found to be most expedient to-incorporatetheselective means in the operating lever withinthe area normallyengaged by the operator and thereby-avoid priorrequi'rements ofphysically disengaging or shifting one or more of the punch elements soas to make it inoperative. It

is, therefore, an object of the present inventionto provide Anotherobject is to provide a perforatorof the kind having two punches withnovelly constructed separate levers and novel rotatable means to causesimultaneous operation of both levers.

Another object is to provide a rugged perforator'of the characterdescribed, which is not'expensive to'm'anufacture but is easy to operateand highly efficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel featuresof construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that variouschanges in the form, proportion,

size and minor details of the structure may be made With-- out departingfrom the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of our invention, wehave illustrated in the accompanying .drawings preferred embodimentsthereof, from an inspection 2,764,240 Patented Sept. 25, I956 ice ofwhich, when considered in connectionv with the following description,our invention, its mode of construc-* tion assembly and-operation andmany of its advantages, should be readily be understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference areemployed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout theseveralfigures 'ofthe draw mgs:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a perforator embodying fea tures. of thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is aside elevational view of the perforator shown I in- Fig. 1,but illustrating portions broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view, taken on line 3--3. ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the perforator-illustrated in Fig. 1,showing. the operating levers disengaged.

Fig. Sis a plan view, similar to Fig. 1, showing another embodiment ofthe perforator.

Fig. dis a perspective view of the perforator shown in Fig; 5,butshowing.theoperating levers disengaged.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is aplan view of a perforator embodying 'another form of theinvention, showing the levers operatively engaged.

Fig; 9 is a perspective view of the perforator shown in Fig. 8; butillustrating the levers disengaged.

Fig.1 10 is a plan view of a perforator embodying still other featuresof the present invention.-

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the perforator shown in Fig: 10,showing one'of the two levers depressed.

In the description which follows, like numerals are used to identifyidentical parts of the various forms of perforators illustrated.

Referring particularly to thedisclosure in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusiveptheperforator shown is of the type adapted to be used in an office forpunching two spaced-apart holes in themarginal edgeof 'a sheet orsheets-so as to facilitate the binding of said sheet or sheets in a fileor binder; The perforator includes a' base 11 which is-substantiallyrectangular in shape and preferably has its side walls converge towardthe front for purposes of appearance. The base is provided with a pairof fi xed upright portions or standards .12 adjacent its rearmost edge,and each is provided, in its front portion, with a punch bearing 13having a spring pocket 14 in communication therewith. The front portionof each standard 12 having the punch bearing 13 therein is spaced abovethe top surface of the base 11 to provide a space 15 into which a sheet,or sheets, is-

thrust when the latter is to be perforated.

The standards 12 also are each provided with a pivot fulcrum in the formof a transverse hole 16, each to receive a fulcrum pin 17 to pivotallymount operating levers thereto. As shown, there are two convergingoperating levers, 18 and 19, each of which preferably is bifurcated atits rear end to receive the top portion of the related standard 12therein. Each lever is connected by a pin 21' to one of a pair ofpunches22, mounted for vertical reciprocation in the punch bearing 13.Springs 23 are arranged one around each-punch 22 within the relatedspring pocket 14 in such manner that its lower end rests upon the bottomof the pocket 14 and its upper end bears against the related pin 21. Itshould be quiteevident that the springs 23 serve to hold the punches 22elevated, as shown in Fig. 2, and also to maintain the connected levers18'or 19 in the upwardly angularly disposed position shown in Fig- 2.The lever 19 is provided on its free forward end with a hand-engagingportion,

preferably in the form of aknob-likemember 24. This knob-like member isformed integral with lever 19 and, in section,.may assume the dome shapeillustrated in Fig. 3. The lever 18 terminates short of the knob-likemember 24, there preferably being a gap 25 between the end of said lever18 and said knob-like member, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, to preventunintended engagement between the two elements.

Insofar as the construction has been described, it should bequite-apparent that either one of the punches 22 may be operated bymanually depressing the corresponding lever 18 or 19. It is alsoapparent that the lever 18 is not provided with a hand-engaging portion.This omission does not, however, interfere with the operation of thelever 18, inasmuch as it is of suflicient length to afford the necessaryleverage required to depress the punch connected thereto.

In order to render both levers 18 and 19 operable in unison, means isprovided on the lever 19 for selective interlocking engagement with thelever 18. The means illustrated in the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1to 4, inclusive, consists of a latch, generally indicated at 26. Latch26 is fabricated from heavy gauge sheet steel so as to be resistant todistortion, and it includes a mounting portion 27 which is suitablyarched to conform to the contour of the bottom face of the knob-likemember 24. Both the knob-like member 24 and the arched latch portion 27are apertured to receive a rivet 28 for securing the two parts together,rotatably. The latch 26 also includes a portion 29 which extendsoutwardly radially beyond the periphery of the knob-like member 24. Thisportion 29 has one marginal edge portion 31 turned upwardly and theninwardly over upon itself to define, in section, a U-shaped arm adaptedto snugly embrace the free end portion of the handle 18 when the latch26 is in the positions shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. When the latch is insuch position, manual engagement of the knob-like member 24 anddepression thereof towards the base 11 will cause both levers 18 and 19to be rocked downwardly to actuate both punches in unison.

In order to permit independent operation of either lever 18 or 19, thelatch 26 is rotated counter-clockwise a distance sufficient to free theU-shaped clamping portion from the lever 18, such as is illustrated inFig. 4, whereupon either one of said levers 18 or 19 may be depressedindependently of the other, to cause the related punch to be actuated.The structure described is such that there are no objectionable movingparts exposed on the top surface of the hand-engaging portion 24;consequently, the perforator is not objectionable in either appearanceor use.

Referring to the disclosure in Figs. to 7, inclusive, the perforator isconstructed substantially like that shown in Fig. 1. In this disclosure,the knob-like portion 24 which is carried on the lever 19, has a latchmember 32 mounted upon its upper face. This latch member issubstantially circular in shape and it is domed to conform to the domeof the knob-like portion 24. The latch 32 is provided with a downwardlyextending flange 33 which embraces the rim of the knob-like member 24and is cut away, as at 34, for a purpose to be described presently. Thelatch 32 has a pair of radial arms 35 and 36 disposed at an anglecorresponding to the angle at which the levers 18 and 19 converge. Thearm 35 overlies a portion of the lever 19 when in the positionillustrated in Fig. 5, and the arm 36 overlies the free end portion ofthe lever 18. The arm 36 has an underlying portion or flange 37 (Fig. 7)which is adapted to engage beneath the lever 18 when the latch is in theposition illustrated in Fig. 5. When in this position the latch securelylocks the levers 18 and 19 together, so that both levers are operated inunison upon manual depression of the knob-like portion 24 to actuateboth punches.

In order to permit independent operation of either lever 18 or 19, thelatch member 32 is rotated about its pivot 28 into a position to carrythe radial arms 35 and 36 out of vertical alignment with the levers 18and 19. Such an unlatched position is illustrated in Fig. 6, where, itwill be observed, the lever 18 is now free to be depressed independentlyof the lever 19. Similarly, the lever 19 may be depressed independentlyof the lever 18. Rotation of the latch member 32 in a counter-clockwisedirection for the purpose of disengaging the arms 35 and 36 from thelevers 19 and 18 respectively is limited by the stop 34 which abuts theedge of lever 19.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 8and 9, the punch structure per se is like that disclosed in Figs. 1 and5, with the exception that the latch member 38, while beingsubstantially like the latch member 32, is provided with very shortradio arms 39 and 41. The latch member 38 is not, in this instance,provided with any means to positively clamp the lever 18; consequently,when the latch is in the position as illustrated in Fig. 8, both leversmay be depressed upon manual depression of the knob-like member 24, orthe lever 18 may be depressed independently of the lever 19. When thelatch is rotated counter-clockwise a distance suflicient to carry itsstop 34 into abutment with the arm 19, as illustrated in Fig. 9, eitherone or the other of the two levers 18 or 19 may be actuated withoutaffecting the position of the other lever.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate still another embodiment of the invention inwhich no latch means is provided on the converging levers 18 and 19. Inthis instance, each lever carries on its forward free end one-half /2)of a knoblike member, as indicated at 24a and 24b. It should be obviousthat both levers may be depressed simultaneously by placing the handover both of the halves 24a and 24b, and then depressing both levers,and that either one or the other of said levers may be actuatedindependently of the other by engaging manually either half of theknoblike member.

It is believed that our invention, its mode of construction, and many ofits advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing withoutfurther description, and it should also be manifest that while preferredembodiments of the invention have been shown and described forillustrative purposes, the structural details are, nevertheless, capableof wide variation within the purview of our invention as defined in theappended claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A perforating device comprising a base embodying a plurality ofupright portions, each having a pivot fulcrum and a punch bearing, aplurality of punches one in each bearing, a pair of levers pivoted atone end, one in the fulcrum of each upright portion, the levers beingoperatively connected one to each punch, said levers converging towardtheir free ends, a knob carried on one of said levers, and rota-tablemeans on the knob selectively engageable with the other lever so thatboth levers may be moved in unison.

2. A perforating device comprising a base embodying a plurality ofupright portions each having a pivot fulcrum and a punch bearing, aplurality of punches one in each bearing, a pair of levers pivoted atone end one in the fuicrum of each upright portion, means connecting thelevers one to each punch said levers converging toward their free ends,a knob carried on one of said levers, and a rotatable latch on the knobselectively engageable with the other lever so that both levers may bemoved in unison.

3. A perforating device comprising a base embodying a plurality ofupright portions each having a pivot fulcrum and a punch bearing, aplurality of punches one in each bearing, a pair of levers pivoted atone end one in the fulcrum of each upright portion, means connecting thelevers one to each. punch said levers converging toward their free ends,a knob carried on one of said levers, and a clamp rotatable on said knobto selectively engage the other lever so that both levers may be movedin uni son.

4. A perforating device comprising a base embodying a plurality ofupright portions each having a pivot fulcrum, a vertical punch bearingand a spring pocket, a pair of levers pivoted at one end one in thefulcrum of each upright portion, a plurality of punches one for each ofsaid punch bearings, a plurality of transverse pins joining the punchesone to each lever, a plurality of springs in said spring pockets bearingagainst said transverse pins for retracting the levers and punches, anda clamp rotatably mounted on one of said levers movable into embracingengagement with the other lever for operably connecting said levers.

5. A perforating device comprising a structure like that described inclaim 4, in which a hand-engaging member is provided on the free end ofone of said levers.

6. A perforating device comprising a structure like that described inclaim 4, in which a hand-engaging member is provided on the free end ofone of said levers and the clamp is carried by the said member.

7. A perforating device comprising a structure like that described inclaim 4, in which the levers converge toward their free ends and a handengaging member is provided on at least one of said levers.

8. A perforating device comprising a base embodying a plurality ofupright portions each having a pivot fulcrum and a punch bearing,punches one in each bearing, punch operating levers pivoted atcomplemental ends, one in each pivot fulcrum, said levers convergingtoward their free other ends so as to locate said free ends in closeproximity for manual engagement selectively, and a rotatable latch onone lever selectively positionable to engage the other lever to connectthe levers for operation in unison.

9. A perforating device comprising a base, a pair of standards on saidbase each provided with a punch bearing and a pivot fulcrum, punches onein each bearing, a pair of levers pivoted at one end one in each pivotfulcrum each operable independently of the other to actuate a relatedpunch, said levers extending generally in a common direction, and arotatable latch carried by one of said levers selectively engageablewith the other lever so as to operably connect said levers for punchactuating operation in unison.

10. A perforating device comprising a structure like that described inclaim 9, in which the rotatable latch is movable into and out ofoverlapping relationship with the other lever.

11. A perforating device comprising a structure like that described inclaim 9, in which the rotatable latch is movable into a position forengaging the other lever when the first named lever is operated during apunching operation.

12. A perforating device comprising a structure like that described inclaim 9, in which the rotatable latch is carried on the free end of saidone lever for engagement with the free end of the other lever.

13. A perforating device comprising a base, a pair of standards thereoneach provided with a punch bearing and a bearing portion, punchessupported in said punch bearings, levers one fulcrumed on each bearingportion each operable to actuate a related punch, and a latch rotatablymounted on one of said levers for selective detachable engagement withthe other lever to cause said levers to be actuated in unison uponoperation of either lever.

14. A perforating device of the kind described in claim 13, in which oneof said levers has a domed handengaging portion.

15. A perforating device including levers actuable each to operate apunch connected therewith, a domed handengaging portion on one of saidlevers, a latch rotatabiy mounted on said dome, an arm on said latch,said arm being U-shaped in section to embrace an end portion of theother lever when positioned to lock the levers together for operation inunison.

16. A perforating device including levers actuable each to operate apunch connected therewith, a hand engaging portion on one of saidlevers, a latch rotatably mounted on said hand engaging portion, an armon said latch, said arm being U-shaped in section to embrace the otherlever when positioned to lock the levers together for operation inunison.

17. A perforating device including levers actuable each to operate apunch connected therewith, a hand engaging portion on one of saidlevers, a latch rotatably mounted on said hand engaging portion, an armon said latch, said arm including means to engage the other lever whenpositioned to lock the levers together for operation in unison.

18. A perforating device comprising a base embodying a plurality ofupright portions, each having a pivot fulcrum and a punch bearing, aplurality of punches one in each bearing, a pair of levers pivoted atone end, one in the fulcrum of each upright portion, the levers beingoperatively connected one to each punch, a knob carried on one of saidlevers, and rotatable means on the knob selectively engageable with theother lever so that both levers may be moved in unison.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS634,304 Mendenhall Oct. 3, 1899 1,632,417 Roebel June 14, 1927 1,650,019Kline Nov. 22, 1927 2,323,859 Wheatley July 6, 1943 2,436,801 Gasio Mar.2, 1948 2,558,044 Emmet June 26, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,188 GreatBritain of 1905 134,728 Great Britain Nov. 13, 1919

